Israel slams countries recognising Palestinian state, says move 'does not promote peace'

Israel on Thursday (May 23) warned that its ties with countries recognising a Palestinian state will face "serious consequences". This comes as Ireland, Norway and Spain prepare to recognise it from next week. 

"There will be additional serious consequences for relations with their countries following the decision they made," said Jacob Blitstein, a top official, in a statement released by Israel's foreign ministry.

Blitstein, as per AFP, made the statement during a meeting with the envoys of Ireland, Norway and Spain. During the meeting, he "reprimanded the ambassadors for the perverse decision of their governments to recognise a Palestinian state.

Reprimanding them for their governments' move announced on Wednesday (May 22), he said that the recognition makes it "more difficult to promote a deal for the release of hostages" still held in Gaza by Palestinian militants.

He also showed them a video of the kidnapping of five women soldiers during the October 7 attack by Hamas.

The video, which was also released to the media, shows the women sitting on the ground, some with blood on their faces, with their hands tied following their capture from the Nahal Oz base in southern Israel.

Israeli government spokesperson, Avi Hyman, addressing the envoys, said: "If Israel has learned anything in recent months, it is that our children deserve a better, safer future - not the resurrection of old, failed policies created by blindsided back-seat drivers abroad."

"A recognition of a Palestinian state does not promote peace. It perpetuates war. Any kind of so-called solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that compromises Israel's security does not mean peace. There will be zero compromise on our security."

"Other than the October 7th massacre, what exactly has changed in the Palestinian Authority to warrants this prize?" questioned Hyman.

"They continue with their policy of pay for slay, they continue to educate their children to hate, they still haven't held an election in 19 years...Fatah terrorists proudly participated in the October 7th massacre. The Palestinian Authority has not condemned the October 7th massacre."

"So what is this Palestinian state that you recognised? It is simply a public declaration that spits in the face of the Israeli people, while we fight a war for our very survival, against the genocidal forces that surround us," he remarked.

The announcement by the three nations comes after the International Criminal Court prosecutor announced that he would seek arrest warrants for Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister. He said he would also seek warrants against Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes during the Gaza conflict.

As per Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who is a major force behind the effort to recognise the Palestinian state, the recognition would reinforce efforts to revive a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict.